During OCSB Career Week in November 2022, students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 had the opportunity to discover various career paths and explore what they could pursue in the future. Through age-appropriate activities, the event aimed to introduce students to different occupations and broaden their perspectives. Overall, the goal was to inspire students to consider the endless possibilities.
The OCSB Career Week specifically focused on teaching “super skills” to students. These skills will help them to succeed in a constantly evolving world and prepare them for job opportunities that may not even exist yet. Each day of the week was dedicated to a specific “super skill” theme, which was both enlightening and motivating. It’s truly inspiring to see the school taking proactive steps to assist students in achieving success.
- Monday – It All Adds Up: Math is a Part of Every Career (Numeracy)
- Tuesday – Construct Your Future: What’s a Skilled Trade? (Oral Communication)
- Wednesday – A Day in the Life of a Worker (Digital Skills)
- Thursday – Entrepreneurship (Writing Skills)
- Friday – Which Hat Will You Wear? (Collaboration)
Throughout the week, there were several innovative live and virtual events on offer. It all started with Mandy Rennehan, an award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, trade-industry ambassador, and CEO, who gave a keynote speech. She spoke to students in Grades 5-12 about the challenges and misconceptions surrounding blue-collar jobs and how they are just as crucial as white-collar jobs, despite the belief that the latter are more desirable. The speech was live-streamed.
Take Our Kids To Work Day was another popular event, where Grade 9 students spent the day with a family member or friend at their place of work. Some students even visited the OCSB Catholic Education Centre, where they attended workshops, participated in discussions with Tom D’Amico (OCSB Director of Education), and solved riddles throughout the office.
Launch 2022 was a virtual event for Grade 12 students to explore post-secondary pathways and career options. The day-long event also hosted innovative and informative workshops on various careers, wellness, and future opportunities.
OCSB Career Week ended with sessions for Grade 5-8 students focussed on learning more about the ever-expanding skilled trades. Panelists shared their experiences about working in the skilled trades labour market and outlined the type of education needed to be part of this exciting world of work.